Program honors Eli Lilly chemist and preservationist Stan Cox
INDIANAPOLIS (February 12, 2025) — Applications are open for two funds created to honor the legacy of an Eli Lilly chemist by providing grants to organizations working to preserve significant African American landmarks in Indiana.
Standiford “Stan” Cox, who passed away in February 2019, joined Eli Lilly and Co. in 1957 as its first Black chemist and was a generous advocate for the preservation of African American heritage sites. During his lifetime, he established two funds with Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), one in his name and one to honor his parents.
The Standiford H. Cox Fund supports the restoration, preservation, operation, and ongoing maintenance of African American historic sites in Indiana. The Dovie Stewart Cox & Chester A. Cox Sr. Memorial Fund provides support for Lost Creek Settlement near Terre Haute, one of the state’s earliest settlements of free people of color.
Indiana Landmarks will continue in its role as a key preservation advisor to the funds, identifying significant places and evaluating projects that the program could assist. Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program committee reviews initial recommendations and will submit them to CICF in June.
“Stan Cox’s commitment to preserving Black heritage in Indiana continues to inspire meaningful action. CICF is honored to help carry forward his vision by supporting efforts that protect and celebrate the historic sites that tell the stories of Black communities across our state,” said Jennifer Bartenbach, CEO of CICF.
In 2024, the Standiford H. Cox Fund awarded $230,000 to 14 projects, including $20,000 to replace the roof and gutters on Seymour’s 1870 Lynn Street Colored School, once part of a thriving African American neighborhood on the city’s west side. In Muncie, a $35,000 grant from the Cox Funds will help the Shaffer Chapel African Methodist Church restore stained glass and install accessible restrooms at its c.1893 building, originally built as the Whitley Public School.
Since its inception in 2020, the Standiford H. Cox funds have made grants totaling over $1 million to more than 74 projects.
In addition to grants for capital improvements, CICF also distributes planning grants on an ongoing basis for architectural or engineering services and supports other projects to document Black heritage in Indiana. In 2024, the City of Boonville received an $8,000 grant to assess the structural stability of the long-vacant Mount Liberty Baptist Church, an important religious site and gathering place for Warrick County’s early Black residents, which the City hopes to make part of broader community revitalization efforts.
“Stan Cox has left an incredible legacy to the people of Indiana,” said Mark Dollase, vice president of preservation services at Indiana Landmarks. “We are honored to work with the Central Indiana Community Foundation in a partnership that will aid in the restoration of important African American landmarks for years to come.”
Born in Brazil, Ind., Cox was an Indiana University graduate who worked for 32 years for Eli Lilly and Co., beginning as a chemist and holding a variety of positions during his career. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s most prestigious academic society, he also earned a master’s degree from Butler University. An advocate for academic biochemical research, he endowed the Standiford H. Cox Professorship in Biochemistry at Indiana University in Bloomington.
Applications for Cox Funds grants are due by April 1, 2025. Groups interested in applying for a grant from the Cox Funds should contact Indiana Landmarks at coxfunds@indianalandmarks.org.
Sites will assessed based on criteria including architectural and/or historical significance, opportunities for redevelopment, threat of demolition, and significance to Indiana’s African American heritage. Non-profit organization with active 501(c)3 status and religious organizations are welcome to apply.
For more information, contact Mark Dollase, vice president of preservation services at Indiana Landmarks, 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, mdollase@indianalandmarks.org, or Leah Nahmias, program director at the Central Indiana Community Foundation, 317-634-2423, leahn@cicf.org.
